The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-05-20
her hearts content. So she offered to
marry him. This was merely for the

him, and he was not such man, per-
haps, as she should choose for hus-
band, but she wanted him for sub
iect. sne wished to oexperiment on him.
She would marry him and cure him,
and then she or he would go away and
the other would get divorce on the
ground OF desertion.
No one i'll his home or hers, remote
would ever know anything of it.
The marriage should be simply q
legal contract, and broken when they
were ready to dissolve it.
He entered into the spirit df it. AT
the rate he then was going, he reason
ed, he could not live long, anyway,
and he was stagnating there for want
OF O sensation OF some kind, all had
been so humdrum aud monotonous
for him since he had beeii i'll and oblig-
ed to leave the hustle and war OF
active life. Beside, he was very much
in love with this erratic little person,
and when he died he would leave her
the whole OF his large 70 ie, which
should make her comfortable for the
rest OF her life, whether she married
again or not.
Added to this, he knew she was not
Ycognizant OF the fortune he was pos
sessed OF, and that her interest in him
WAS born entirely OF her disinterested
love for all OF the human race. lier
wonderful sympathy with suffering,
and noble self-abnegnation. He ad.
mired and respected her above all
women, and would have done so, had
she been old and ugly; but when q
.large-hearted young man admires and
respects woman who isyoung, sym.
pathetic and good-looking, with a
thousand little tricks of manner that
are absolutely charming, it generally
happens that the admiration deepens
into affection, and the respect into
the warmest love. So they were mar
ried very quietly. No one thought it
odd in any way or different from 9th
er marriages. Every one in Eureka
Springs was II stranger 10 every one
else; no one knew anything OF his
neighbours home-life, or antecedents,
or cared to inquire. She took him
under her respecial charge. and n strange
honeymoon it was, with never a kiss,
or caress, and never Il word OF love,
lOE GllttU WdS pitlD W t1io puSliiCno tL :
rangement. She had said:
.Of course you don't care anything
for me, nor for you, except as the
physician cares for his patient, and
there is no use in pretending we do, so
there will be no making believe the
love we have not, and do not care to
have. We shall treat each other in ev-
cry way exactly as we have done be-
fore, except as you give up all these
poisonous medicines you are taking,
and leave your cure in my hands.
She was very much surprised when
she found the lavish way in which he
spent money. She suggested q Roman
bathroom and soon had it construct
ed, She wished for this or that ap-
pliance so assist in his cure; they were
each Forthcoming.
She was in her element. ,fhere was
her mother for propriety, ,and it SEEM
ed as though she were at home, and
here was this gentleman, pleasant and
intelligent, only an ordinary guest
and a docile patient.
She got all the books she could find
on gas poisons OF all sorts, and enter
ed enthusiastically upon her lille OF e3-
pertinent.
Gone great thing" she had said, sis
| to keep the mind in cheerful condi-
ton, and think as little as possible oi
your malady. So she sang for him,
read to him, entertained, starved and
Experimental upon him with untlring
energy and persistent good-nature.
Denslow had body servant, who
was her strong ally. He followed her
orders implicitly, not allowing his
master to have one thing she prohib-
ited.
Cigars were banished; wine, with the
exception Of a tablespoon OF port ev-
cry morning, was thrown out OF the
menu, and every thing went on with the
most exact regularity.
At the end OF five months he was
very much better, almost a we'll man,
and walking steadily on to acomplete
cure, aud i'll all that time he had new
| er broken his part OF the contract, he
had never even kissed tile bright little
girl who Vas his self-appointed nurse,
physician and wiie, ''She is my wife
really and actually according 10 the
laws of the Commonwealth OF Arkan
sas,u he would sometimes say to him
self, consoiiag himself with that fact
He had often been gQrely tempted
in these sweet months OF what wa.
really his courtship, to take her ii
his arms and sue for the love he crav
4 ed so strongly 1t yas bad enougl
when he expected to die and leav
| her, but now when he knew he shoult
| live, perhaps as long as other men
and never be able to gain her love, i
was terrible. And, then, when heco
templnted the parting WHICH mus
come soon, he felt that he Youldrath
Ell be an invalid niwny. aud baSs he
daily companionship if nothing more
Still it was something to be we
again, apd when the thought OF all he
patience ana uswearied kindness, he
auhle self-sacrihee, he said to himsel
!, will be q man. ! should be ilpt
poor coward did / say or do anytlin
to offend shat pure spirit. will 9
away and make no sign. Let her &c
her divorce. will see sha has sutl
I cient aiipwance. But it WAS Yer
hard for him.
1 II, all this time she had been Il skill
iul physician, an intelligent stnden
of his case, n considerable, though dies
potic, nurse, and an agreeable con
panion, nothing more; and when sb
q found that at last the disease yislde
g to her persistent efforts her profession
al entiius;asm knew no bonds. Sll
had been the cool, careful, passion
less practitioner, nos aAe was til
, triumphant victor. She had ,2vel
, come disease in one OF its most ureaet
. erous aud .lsidious shapes. She ha
conquered death and was radiant wit
. professional seli-cengpatulations, q
, ! tis most learned savant iuight b
But apparently the weakness OF
) ltender love had not come with gent
insistencs into her cold heart
!, 1t was the morning before pepsiog
, departure. Black Care pfassed dow
!, his brows. and Gloom had laid j,
dark n,antel about his shoulders. II
sauntered to the window and locke
/, out. Bright March sunlight lay Oh tt
mountain, on the white dusty roat
and on the figure OF Madeline, AS II
! stood there in her white flannel dres
laeping into the cavernous depths I
/ a market wagon. while the same Ian
Arkansan houyisI;ed his whip over IL
straight back OF this patient, unoifen'
/ H.